To what extent is the brother-against-brother struggle of the Romulus and Remus myth fundamentally true as a unifying theme of Roman civil wars and to what extent does it fail to tell the whole story?
2007-04-12 08:26:14 · 4 answers · asked by Andrew 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The basic idea is true, as is the case with most myth, but there is probably very little history behind it, as is also generally the case with most myths.
The struggle of brother against brother is always the most vicious and also the most destructive. More Americans were killed in the Civil War, brother-against-brother, than, almost, every other war the USA has fought, combined!
The most destructive of all wars and struggles for powers are those that occur within families because it destroys the family fabric itself and leaves it weak, so as to allow other families or powers to step in and take over.
2007-04-12 08:42:24 · answer #1 · answered by John B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not entirely sure that the myth had any effect on the civil wars at all. The optimates and populares powerbases came from the social and political struggles that were rippling over Rome. It was something near 500 years since the foundation of Rome before the Civil wars started (even if you include the Gracchi brothers). Of more importance, relating to myths, would have been the early myths of patrician and plebian.
2007-04-12 08:38:15 · answer #2 · answered by jeremy l 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Star Trek, the Romulans have Romulus as their home planet. It's completely unrelated, but I think it's interesting :) Maybe you can get extra credit or something if you research Rome references there.
2016-05-18 02:36:34 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they fight because of there past
2007-04-12 08:30:21 · answer #4 · answered by Jojo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋